Conveyer carrier blades with equalizer tops



May 17, 1949. E. A. LERNER CONVEYER CARRIER BLADES WITH EQUALIZER TOPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1946 May 17, 1949. E. A. LERNER CONVEYER CARRIER BLADES WITH EQUALIZER TOPS 5 Sheets-Sheet? Filed June 8, 1946 INVENTOR. Z'czzgifl Lerner May 17, 1949. A, LERNER 2,470,253

CONVEYER CARRIER BLADES WITH EQUALIZER TOPS Filed June 8, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

faglflliemzer BY Patented May 17, i949 CONVEYER CARRIERBLADES WITH EQUALIZERLTOPS Earl A. Lerner, Chicago Heig'hts,.lll., assignor to American Brake Shoe Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation-of Delaware Application June 8, 1946, Serial No. 675,511"

11 Claims. (01. 198-189) The invention relatesto: endless chain conveyors for moving metal. sheets and like articles through a .furnace for progressiveheating and has reference in particular to improvements inthe supporting members or carrier blades for said articles, apl-uralityoi which at suitably spaced intervals are presented within the furnace by an. endlesschain conveyor having movement in a passage providedtherefor in the hearth of the furnace.

Many types of carrier. blades have. been designed for endless chain conveyors for heating, furnaces with. the objeotofproviding carriers free from cracking, spalling or distortion, since severe stresses are set up by reason of the unequal heating andlcooling as the carrierblades pass through the furnace in one direction and then through the cooler outside atmosphere in areturn direc tion. Although the improvements in the'art' have met with some success, because of the rapiddeterioration of the parts disposed within the heating chamber, maintenance of the carriers in 013- erative condition has required replacement of an entire individual carrier blade from time meme; thus greatly increasing-costs due to'such changes.

In' my Patent No. 2,279,689 granted April 14*, 1942 I discloseand claim a carrier blade of multipart construction wherein the parts are conveniently connected together and wherein the mem bers which are particularly subj'ectto deterioration can-be readily and-easily-repairedorreplaced when necessary.

An object of the present invention is to improve the multi-part carrier bla'deconstruction shown in my prior patent by articulatedly' connecting the article supporting members to theirparticular carrier blade members with provision being made for limited rocking movement of thearticlesupporting members.

During: operation of endless chain conveyors of the type described the upright carrier blades travel within slottedconduits. constructed in the hearth of the-furnaceand the article supporting members connected thereto are-positioned above the hearth: for supporting the metal sheets or similar articles within the-heating chamber, for which purpose the said members are provided with a plurality ofspaced upstanding fingers. The carriers are causedto leavethe furnace when: their particular conveyor link contacts the endsprocket. As a resultthe carrier blades are indined at anangle to the vertical and a finger of: the article: supporting member of: said carrier is accordingly forced upwardly so that an excessive load is thusplaced on it. In conven- 1 tional carrier blade construction this action had: a tendency to bend or distort the upstanding sup-- porting blade which is at a high temperature due: to its travel through the heating chamber, the distortion taking place to such an extent as to. require replacement. In the improved structure;

of the invention the article supporting members have pivotal securement to their carrier blades, thereby permitting the members to rock or pivot to a limited extent so as to equalize the load placed upon the carrier blades as they leave the heating, chamber.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a novel carrier blade of multi-part construction wherein the top part or article supporting member is constructed and arranged to resemble an equalizer bar and wherein the samev has pivotal connection with the lower part or car'- rier bladeso that an excessive load placed on the article supporting member will be transmitted through the pivot axis to the carrier blade.

A further and more specific object resides in providing an equalizer top of novel construction and which is desired for pivotal securement to its carrier blade with provision being made for limited rocking movement of the equalizer top on said blade. I

Withthese and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of: construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly'pointed out equalizer tops in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a. top plan view of the improved equalizer top and carrier blade comprising the multi-part structure of the invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational View on an. enlarged scale showing details of the pivotal securement of the equalizer top to its carrier. blade;

Figure 5 is an end view of the structure'show'n, in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view in elevation illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing details of another modified construction of equalizer top coming within the invention;

Figure 8 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the modification of Figure "7.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, the multi-part carrier blade structure of the invention is shown in Figure 2 as affixed to endless chain conveyors comprising a plurality of opposed link members In and 2 pivotally secured to each other as at I3, with the carrier blades being fixedly secured to the links l2, which links alternate with the links H]. The carrier blades as elements of the endless chain conveyor are associated with a heating furnace such as M having a hearth |5. The conveyors are disposed within passageways l6 provided therefor and which extend longitudinally of the hearth with the conduits i1 receiving the carrier members which extend vertically and project into the heating chamber I8. rier members are equipped with the article supporting members, in accordance with the invention, which have contact with and support the metal sheets |9 or other articles and convey the same through the furnace chamber for progressive heating.

As best shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the carrier blade of multi-part construction as comprehended by the present invention is shown as comprising a carrier member of open frame-like construction and which includes the opposed supporting elements 2| and 22 interconnected at their lower ends by web 23 which is provided with means such as openings whereby the carrier member can be connected by the rivets 24 and 25 to the opposed link members l2 of the endless chain conveyor so as to form a part thereof. The web 23 is provided with shoulders 26 and 21 on the respective sides thereof for engagement with the link members |2 to position the carrier member with respect to the endless chain conveyor.

The supporting elements 2| and 22 are bridged or interconnected at their upper ends by the web 28, thus providing an opening 30 substantially centrally of the carrier member to prevent undue deterioration of this part of the structure. The said upper interconnecting web 28 is constructed specially for purposes of the invention, having spaced journalling members 32 and 33 formed integrally therewith centrally of the web, and which journalling members project upwardly beyond the body of the web. The members in efiect form a bifurcated structure with said members having an opposed relation and being spaced on the respective sides of web 23 a distance slightly greater than the width of the web. A central opening is formed in each journalling member, the same being indicated by numeral 34. The openings are in alignment with each other with each opening These projecting ends of the carhaving a slot 35 communicating therewith. The

a seat 38 is provided, said seats having utility in supporting the article supporting member which will now be described in detail.

The article supporting member, indicated in its entirety, by numeral 39, provides a plurality of upstanding fingers for contact with the metal sheets or articles which are supported thereby. The longitudinally disposed fingers are indicated by numerals 40 and 4|, Figure 2, whereas, the transverse fingers are indicated by numerals 42 and 43. Said member accordingly has a T-formation in plan and wherein the fingers 40 and 4| are joined by the longitudinal body portion 44 and the fingers 42 and 43 are connected by the transverse body portion 45. The finger 43, since it is located in alignment with the body portion 44, may be considered as a part of the same, or the said finger may be considered as forming part of the transverse body portion 45. The fingers 42 and 43 each have a depending part in the form of the lug 46 which is displaced laterally of body portion and in operative position the said lugs have overlapping relation with the web portions 33 and 31 at the extremities thereof adjacent the seats 38.

According to the invention the article supporting member 39 is mounted on its carrier member 20 in a manner permitting limited oscillating movement of the supporting member. For this purpose the longitudinal body portion 44 has a formation providing a depending part for location between the members 32 and 33. The top surface of web 28 is likewise specially formed for accommodating the body portion 44 and in the embodiment herein disclosed the top surface of web 28 is substantially concave, whereas, the body portion 44 has a convex formation providing said depending portion and which has operative association with the concavity. The desired oscillating movement of the article supporting member is made possible by the notch 48 formed in the convex part of the body portion 44 and by the coacting projection 50 which extends upwardly from the base of said concavity in the top surface of web 28. This structure has been provided to prevent the article supporting member from sliding out of position when passing over the idler sprocket just prior to being loaded with the material to be conveyed through the furnace.

For the rocking movement of the said member 39 the body portion 44 is provided with the opening 5| which is of oval shape. The location and arrangement of opening 5| is such as to permit the article supporting member to normally maintain a substantially horizontal position, in which position the transverse body 45 is supported by the seats 38 of the web portions 36 and 31. In this position of the member all four fingers are horizontal and metal sheets such as l9 or similar articles can be satisfactorily supported by the fingers and thus conveyed through the furnace horizontally. The member, however, is capable of rocking in a counter-clockwise direction, Figure 2, the extent of this rocking movement being limited by the top surface 52 of web 28, which is purposely reduced in height to provide for this limited rocking movement. Although the opening 5| is necessarily of oval shape to permit said rocking movement of member 39, the movement would not take place in a proper manner were it not for the notch 48 and projection 50. As best shown in Figure 4, the coaction of these parts is such as to provide a fulcrum to facilitate rocking of the article supporting member,

i the load transmittedzto the carrier member;

annotate Ehepartsiorthe:presentnarrierbladearewmain tamed im articulated relation by the retaining pin.

indicated in its entirety by-numeral 53.. The pin:

ishof the:key=lockstypeihaving depending elements atxits respectiveends ne element comprises the mg.- 54; identical" in shape lie the slot 35'. The

function: of theslot is to. permit the retaining pin toizb e'xpasse-ds through the journalling members 32 and 3'3'which calmbe readily accomplished when thevlug v 54 isaligned with sai'd sts35; The other depending, element or the: pin: comprises-the lever saw-men assists in -retainingrthe pin in: place by locating. lug.-54" vertically and thus out of align ment with slots The said lever'55 has location between stops 56- and:.5l formed integrally with journalling member 32c Journall i'ng member-33 isrprovided with similar stops soithat the retaining.

time: so that the: members can be produced. free" from fiaws; cracksor other objections which would acceleratefailure'inusebyreason of the high and 1mm temperaturerto which the-parts are alter netely subjected.-

mrthermore,,the carrier blade of the invention is provided with an articulated top: member which v has-rocking movement on its carrier member. to

avoid overloading, ofone side of the same with.

consequent-bending and distortion of the member. means of the top -.part being: made separately and: arrangedto assembleanequalizer bar,: the:- multi-part carrier blade will carry the same load" aszvifthe carrier blade had been constructed in The equalizer'top functions to equalize. The.

one piece.

herein described. with respect to Figures 2, 3, i and. 5 could. be accomplished by obvious slight.

modifications to the present design. Provided the load is carried by a pin at the center of the articulated parts allowing the top to equalize the load, the objectives may even be accomplishedwith an eliminationoithe rolling action.

In 'Figure 6' a modified form of the invention is disclosed wherein the design of the parts has.

been materially simplified. The forwardspocket It? has operative connection with an endless chain conveyor consisting of opposed link members Hfl'and H2" and which are pivotally secured to each other as at 3.; The link members I I2 havesuitab'ly secured thereto a carrier blade of multi part construction as comprehended by the present invention, the'sam'e comprising a carrier member [-20 of open' frame-like construction inchilling opposed supporting elements l2! and I 22" which are interconnected at their base by web I23 and attheir upper'ends by web I281 In this modification theweb [R' -has an arcuate' top surface indicated-by numeral I29. The web [23' also provides spacedjournal-ling members I32; The topim'ember l 3'9" in the form of an equalizer bar, substantially'similar' tothat described in the de-' viceiof. Figure 2; is pivotally secured to the car-- rierrmember-bymeans otretaining in I53; The pin isxlsultably. retamedin operative position" and substantially-vertical slot l58t' fornredzinthei equalizer: top: to permit; rocking; movement; the same; Said: movement" is diagrammatically illustratedi in Figured lit willlbeobserved that:

. the: carrier member is inclined upomengagemetrn;

with the ihrwardisproclteta: I 08; which"; action takes; place when the'carri'er bladeis about: to leave theiiurnacez As air esulti of: the pivotal Cdlllfee'w tion; or theequaliizer tops. with their respective.-

' carrier members ea'clictcp: has rocking movement? upon inclination oritstcarrler member and the" load; is transmitted: by the top: to its. member through the: pivotal. axis in a manner to sub stantiall y equalize the load-and eliminate bend ing or distortiom either member:

The-modiflcatiomshown Figures 7:, 8- and 9& consists of: l -carrier member 2200i open frame like construction: and including opposed sup-:- porting elements" 221 and.- Ifl interconnected at? their" lower curls by-811'. web; not shown, which; however;. has been: fittlly described andexplained in connection with the disclosure of FigureZi The upright supporting elements 2 2l and 212 are'xbridged or" connected at-their upper ends by the substantially; horizontal w eblm; the structure thus providing a:. central opening 230 to prevent. undue deterioration (if these supporting g-i elements. airticl'esupporti ng member, indi"-- cated in its entirety by? numeral 139-, is sup ported for: rockin-gi movement on:- the top surface oi the web 228a The m'ember'consists ola longitudinal body portioni 244*andawhich: provides-umstanding article supportinghngerss. 240', 24! and;

242, the top edges dfithe firigers being disposed in a horizontal planecwithrnember' 239 in the position as showmineEigure 7; Theleft' hand end of the longitudinal: body portiorr 244 is providedi with laterally extendirrgrwebs S and 2'46, which webs likewise-provide.airticl'e supporting fingers 241'. Thewebs depends thebody portion so as to formspa'ce-d'aportionsi di'spose'donzthe respec tive sides. of webaflll itlbflngobserved that the":

connecting web: are isadapted to fit between. portions 2451 and 246; A similar constructiom is found at the right hand end of the body por tion 244 wherein'thewebs 2t8 an'di49 are integral with" the body portion, extending upward-1y to: form the fingers" 250 and" depending to form" spaced portionsv located on the respective sidesof web 228: This erid of thebodyporti'on 244 is bevelled on its undersurface at 25f, the bevel" extending from the edge adjacent finger 242 to"-- substantially the center of the article-supporting member immediately below the central finger 24%. As a result 'of'thebevelled surface the article supporting member'hasrockingmovement on web 228.: Therocking'movernent-islimitedin both directions, as, for" example; when thep'arts are'iri' contact, as shown iii-Figure '7, which position fingers 240} 211*- and Elfin horizontal alignment. for supporting metal sheets or arti'cles ashas been described; andw-hen the surface 25! is in contact" with web 228.- When movement has taken place the fingers are, ill and" 212 are at an inclination for purposes as has been described in" connection with theotlier'modifi'cations. There is no opposition provided'by'the portions 245, 256" and-148', 249', but; on th-ec'on'trary; these portions are'dis'pe s'ed on' respective sidesof the web 2'28 and function as guiding elements during the rocking' movement of'the article supporting member.

The member 29 is especially constructed for purposes of the invention, having depending"; journall inga members 23 2* and 233' formed ins tegrally witlrthetIongitudinaF-body portion? 2" of the member. The journalling members project downwardly from said body portion and in effect form a bifurcated structure, being spaced sufficient to accommodate the web 228. A central opening is formed in each journalling member, the same being indicated by numeral 234. The openings are in alignment with each other and each opening has a slot 235 communicating therewith. The parts are maintained in articulated relation by the retaining pin indicated in its entirety by numeral 253 and which is of the key lock type, having depending elements at its respective ends. One element comprises the lug 254 identical in shape to the slot 235. The function of the slot is to permit the retaining pin to be passed through the journalling members 232 and 233 and which can be readily accomplished when the lug 234 is aligned with the slots 235. The other depending element of the pin comprises the lever 255 which assists in retaining the pin in place. This lever has location between stops 256 and 251.

The construction of the article supporting member comprising the modification of Figures 7, 8 and 9 has certain advantages which result principally from the depending relation of the journalling members 232 and 233. When the journalling members project upwardly their free ends are subjected to the intense heat of the furnace, with the result that they soon deteriorate which requires replacement of the entire supporting structure. For replacing the supporting structure the expense is considerable but since it is contemplated that the article supporting member will need replacement from time to time it is only natural that the journalling members 232 and 233 should be integral with and thus a part of said article supporting member. With this exception the modified structure of Figures 7, 8 and 9 is the same as has been described, the necessary fingers and Webs being provided for obtaining adequate strength and the necessary supporting surface, with the locking pin journalling the articulated article supporting member in the conventional manner.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, as various forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A material carrier for conveyors for heat treating furnaces, in combination, a carrier member secured to a conveyor, an article supporting member articulatedly connected to said carrier member, and means provided by said members for limiting the pivotal movement of the article supporting member on the carrier member, the said means provided by the carrier member including seats for contact with the article supporting member to support the said member in an operative substantially horizontal position.

2. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member secured to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, an article supporting member supported by said connecting web, and means for articulatedly connecting the article supporting member *and said carrier member whereby said article supporting member may have oscillating movement on the carrier member from a horizontal position to an angular position with respect to the horizontal.

3. A conveyor for heat treating furnaces as defined by claim 2 wherein the means for articulatedly connecting the members includes a releasable pin, and wherein said carrier member provides stop means for limiting the oscillating movement of the article supporting member.

4. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having means for securing it to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, spaced journalling members integral with and extending above said web, an article supporting member supported by said connecting web and having location between the journalling members, a retaining pin articulatedly connecting the article supporting member to said journalling members, said article supporting member having a pivot opening of special shape for receiving the pin whereby limited oscillating movement of said member may take place, and means provided by the carrier member including seats for contact with the article supporting member to support the said member in an operative substantially horizontal position when located at one extremity of its oscillating movement.

5. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having means for securing it to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, spaced journalling members integral with and extending above said web, an article supporting member supported by said connecting web and having location between the journalling members, a retaining pin articulatedly connecting the article supporting member to said journalling members, said article supporting member having a pivot opening of special shape for receiving the pin whereby limited oscillating movement of said member may take place, and said Web and article supporting member having a coacting projection and notch for retaining the parts in proper operative relation during said oscillating movement.

6. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having means for fixedly securing it to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright support-,

ing elements and a connecting web therebetween, the upper surface of said web being concave centrally thereof and which provides stop means on the respective sides of the concavity, spaced journalling members integral with and extending above the web on the respective sides thereof in substantial alignment with the concavity, an article supporting member having a longitudinally disposed body portion and a plurality of upstanding fingers, said body portion having a bottom surface of convex form and being adapted for location between the journalling members whereby the body portion is received by the concavity for supporting the article supporting member in a manner permitting oscillating movement on said connecting web, a retaining pin articulatedly connecting the article supporting member and said journalling members, and said article supporting member having a pivot opening of special shape for receiving the pin whereby oscillating movement of the member may take place to an extent limited by the stop means provided by said web.

'7. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having means for fixedly securing it to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, the upper surface of said web being concave centrally thereof and which provides stop means on the respective sides of the concavity, spaced journalling members integral with and extending above the web on the respective sides thereof in subtsantial alignment with the concavity, an article supporting member having a longitudinally disposed body portion and a plurality of upstanding fingers, said body portion having a bottom surface of convex form and being adapted for location between the journalling members whereby the body portion is received by the concavity for supporting the article supporting member in a manner permitting oscillating movement on said connecting web, a retaining pin articulatedly connecting the article supporting member and said journalling bers, said article supporting member having a pivot opening of special shape for receiving the pin whereby oscillating movement of said member may take place to an extent permitted by the stop means provided by said web, and said web and body portion of the article supporting member having a coacting projection and notch for re taining the parts in proper operative relation. during said oscillating movement.

8. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having means for securing it to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, an article supporting member in contact with said connecting web being supported thereby and having rocking movement with respect to the web, spaced journalling members integral with the article supporting member and depending therefrom on respective sides of said connecting web, and a retaining pin articulatedly joining the said journalling members and the connecting web.

9. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having means for securing it to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, an article supporting member in contact with said connecting web being supported thereby and having rocking movement with respect to the web, spaced journalling members integral with the article supporting member and depending therefrom on respective sides of said connecting web, a retaining pin articulatedly joining the said J'ournalling members and the connecting web, said article supporting member having a special shape to provide for said rocking movement and also having formed integral therewith a plurality of upstanding fingers for direct contact with the article to be supported thereby.

10. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having means for securing it to said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, said connecting web having a flat top surface and which is disposed substantially horizontal when the said carrier member is vertically positioned, an article supporting member including a longitudinal body portion providing a plurality of article supporting fingers, said article supporting member being supported With the longitudinal body portion thereof in contact with said connecting web and being adapted to have rocking movement with respect to said web, journalling members integral with the longitudinal body portion extending on the respective sides of the same and depending so as to have location on the respective sides of said web, and a retaining pin articulatedly connecting the said journalling members and the connecting web.

11. In a conveyor for heat treating furnaces, the combination including a carrier member having secured relation with said conveyor, said carrier member having an open frame-like construction embodying spaced upright supporting elements and a connecting web therebetween, an article supporting member in superposed relation on the carrier member being supported by the connecting Web for rocking movement thereon, means articulatedly connecting the article supporting member and the carrier member including spaced journalling members and a releasable pin carried thereby, said article supporting member and said web having a special shape to provide for said rocking movement, and the article supporting member having a plurality of upstanding fingers formed integral therewith for direct contact with the article to be supported thereby.

EARL A. LERNER. 1

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

